&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Climate Change and the Health
of Occupational Groups
Understanding the threats that climate change
poses to human health can help us work
together to lower risks and be prepared.
Climate change threatens human health, including
mental health, and access to clean air, safe drinking
water, nutritious food, and shelter. Everyone is affected
by climate change at some point in their lives. Some
people are more affected by climate change than
others because of factors like where they live; their age,
health, income, and occupation; and how they go
about their day-to-day life.
Certain groups of workers are especially vulnerable to
health impacts from climate change because of where
they work and the type of work that they do. Climate
change may increase the occurrence and severity of
some existing occupational hazards and may also lead to
new and unanticipated risks. Some workers also
encounter unique hazards related to climate change,
such as the exposure of firefighters to wildfires. It is
important that employers understand the impacts of
climate change so they can take steps to prepare for
potential changes in the work environment and protect
their workers. Employers, safety professionals, and
workers should stay informed about emerging issues
and hazards associated with climate change to better
develop plans that address worker safety and health.
What is climate change
and why does it matter for
health?
We've all heard of it, but what exactly is climate change?
Greenhouse gases act like a blanket around Earth,
trapping energy in the atmosphere. Human activities,
especially burning fossil fuels for energy, increase the
amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and
cause the climate to warm. Climate is the typical or
average weather for an area. Climate change is any
change in average weather that lasts for a long period of
time, like warming temperatures. Climate change affects
the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we
drink. It also leads to extreme weather events, like
flooding, droughts, and wildfires. All of these impacts
affect human health.
It is important that employers understand how climate
change affects the health and safety of their workers.
There are actions employers can take to prepare now,
such as including a climate change component in
existing safety and health training. Established tools and
strategies for protecting workers from climate change
related hazards, such as temperature extremes and
pesticide use, can be used to protect workers currently
experiencing the health impacts of climate change.
These tools and strategies can also be used as the basis
for planning for the prevention of future health impacts
on vulnerable occupational groups.
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Work settings and climate change
Outdoor workers are often among the first to be
exposed to the effects of climate change. Climate
change is likely to affect the health of outdoor workers
through increases in temperature, poor air quality,
extreme weather, diseases transmitted by ticks and
mosquitoes, industrial exposures, and damage to
infrastructure. Outdoor workers affected by climate
change include:
• farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers
• commercial fishermen
• construction workers
• paramedics, firefighters, police, and other first
responders
• transportation workers
But it is not only outdoor workers who are affected by
climate change. Individuals who are exposed to hot
indoor work environments (such as steel mills, dry
cleaners, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and
other areas that lack air conditioning) are also at risk for
climate change impacts such as extreme heat exposure
or indoor air pollutants.
Extreme heat
Extreme heat may result in more cases of heat-related
illnesses, like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and fatigue
among workers, especially among more physically
demanding occupations. Heat stress and fatigue can
reduce alertness and work capacity, leading to safety
lapses that can increase the risk of injury. Higher
temperatures can also worsen air pollution, raising the
risk of respiratory illness for workers. Heat extremes in
areas not previously affected by high temperatures can
affect workers who are not used to working in high
heat conditions or are unaware of heat-related hazards.
Extreme events
Extreme events, such as floods, storms, droughts, and
wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense as a
result of climate change. These events create risky
conditions for workers involved in disaster response,
rescue, and cleanup. For example, firefighters battling
wildfires are exposed to hazards such as being overrun
by fire, heat-related illnesses and injuries, smoke
inhalation, and air pollutants. First responders and
other emergency workers face greater health and
safety risks when working in conditions with
infrastructure disruptions, communication
interruptions, and social unrest or violence following
floods and storms.
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CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE HEALTH OF OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
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Other outdoor health hazards
Other health hazards for outdoor workers include
increased exposure to waterborne and foodborne
illness, allergens, and insects carrying diseases such as
West Nile virus or Lyme disease. In addition, because of
the increase in range and duration of pests and weeds,
pesticide use is expected to increase, including in areas
where pesticides were not previously used. This will
increase the exposure of agricultural workers. Lastly, for
some groups, such as migrant workers and day
laborers, the health effects of climate change can be
cumulative, as they are affected both by work-related
exposures and exposures associated with poorly
insulated housing and lack of air conditioning.
Members of the military
Like others who work outdoors, military personnel
who train and conduct operations in hot
environments are at risk for heat-related illness.
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces are also at
increased risk of exposure to diseases carried by
mosquitoes and ticks, as well as exposure to
respiratory hazards like air pollution. In addition,
military personnel are stationed and deployed
globally, which exposes them to climate-related
infections that are relatively rare in the United
States, such as dengue fever and malaria. The U.S.
Department of Defense has developed a climate
change adaptation plan to help understand and
mitigate these and more health threats related to
climate change (see link in the Learn More section
of this sheet).
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE HEALTH OF OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
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This fact sheet is based on "The Impacts of Climate
Change on Human Health in the United States: A
Scientific Assessment." To explore the full report, go to:
https://health2016.globalchange.gov
Learn More
Climate Change and Occupational Health and Safety
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/climate/
Climate Change: Human Health
https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts/health.html
Climate Change: What You Can Do
https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/
Department of Defense: Climate Change Adaptation
and Resilience
http://www.defense.goV/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/
471521p.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Climate
Change
https://www.fema.gov/climate-change
Occupational Safety & Health Administration's
Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html
Occupational Safety & Health Administration:
Occupational Heat Exposure
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/
Recursosen Espanol
A la campana de OSHA para prevenir las enfermedades
a causa del calor en trabajadores al aire libre
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/spanish/index_sp.html
Climate Health Assessment: Resumen Ejecutivo en
espanol
https://health2016.globalchange.gov/downloads
EPA en espanol: El cambio climatico y usted
https://espanol.epa.gov/espanol/el-cambio-climatico-y-usted
EPA: Seguridad y salud laboral para el manejo de
pesticidas
https://espanol.epa.gov/seguridad-laboral-al-usar-pesticidas
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE HEALTH OF OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
Photo credit on bottom right of page 2: Marvin Nauman/Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
EPA 430-F-16-057
May 2016
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